La Jolla: Sea Cave Kayaking Tour With Guide

Join a guide for this 1h 30m La Jolla sea cave kayaking tour. Paddle a kayak out to the sea caves and back during the outing. The tour is rated 4.6 by 271 reviewers.

Overview

This 1h 30m paddle from Everyday California puts you in a double kayak with a certified guide and heads straight for the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, a marine protected area holding one of the densest concentrations of sea life in California. The route takes in the famous Seven Sea Caves, and the group paddles inside Emerald Cave. Along the way the guide points out what is living in the water and on the rocks.

The wildlife changes with the season. Sea lions haul out on the rocks and swim in the sanctuary, bright orange garibaldi drift over green sea grass, and leopard sharks show up in summer and fall. Grey whales pass through during their winter migration, and dolphins sometimes cruise beside the kayaks. Reviewers regularly report seeing sharks, sea lions, garibaldi and birds, and one even spotted a whale in the distance.

No kayaking experience is required. The tour includes a safety briefing and a paddle overview before launch, plus all the safety gear, so it works for first-timers as well as confident paddlers. Families do it too: one reviewer brought children aged five and six and reported they loved it. The finish has a bit of fun built in, as the group rides the surf back to shore.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at the shopArrive at 2261 Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla 30 minutes before the reservation time. Late arrivals do not get a refund.
2. Safety briefing and overviewGuides give safety instruction and a tour overview before anyone launches. Lockers are available for belongings at a small fee.
3. Paddle into the reserveThe group heads out in double kayaks through the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, San Diego's marine protected area.
4. Explore the Seven Sea CavesThe route passes the Seven Sea Caves of La Jolla, and the group paddles inside Emerald Cave.
5. Watch for wildlifeSea lions, garibaldi, leopard sharks in warmer months, dolphins and occasionally grey whales in winter may appear along the way.
6. Surf back to shoreThe return leg ends with the group riding the kayaks back onto the beach.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from check-in timing to what the ocean decides to do with the caves.

• Arrive early. Check-in happens 30 minutes before the reservation time, and the operator states that late arrivals get no refund. Plan to be at 2261 Avenida De La Playa with time to spare.
• What to wear. The listing asks guests to bring swimwear and sunscreen. One reviewer described the tour as a great workout, so clothes that can get wet and handle paddling are the right call.
• No experience needed. The listing states no experience is required, and multiple reviewers said it was their first time kayaking and still a blast. The safety instruction and pre-launch overview cover the basics.
• Wildlife varies by season. Leopard sharks appear in summer and fall, while grey whales pass through during winter migration. Reviewers reported seeing sharks, sea lions, garibaldi, birds and even a distant whale.
• Cave entry is conditional. One reviewer said there were too many waves to safely go into the sea caves, and another could not enter the caves either, with the guides keeping the group out as a water-safety call on that day.
• Storage and extras. Lockers are available for a small fee, and gratuities are not included in the booking. A portion of every booking goes to 1% For The Planet.

Common issues. The main thing outside anyone's control is the surf. One reviewer said there were too many waves to safely enter the sea caves, and another could not enter the caves either. The tour also runs on a strict clock: check-in is 30 minutes before the reservation and late arrivals lose their money. Gratuities and hotel transportation are not included, and locker storage carries a small fee.

Common Questions